What is USB-C, the charging socket that replaced Apple's Lightning cable?

What is USB C? What Apple planet do you come from?

This is what using apple products does to your brain

This is evidence the EU is completely brain dead.

USB-C is outgunned by Thunderbolt when used as a data transfer port.

USB-C PD mode can charge power hungry device, but with it brings a raft of dangers, ie non-compliant chargers and cables that can electrocute, set battery on fire or worse explode, say on a plane.

Only luddites plug in their phones to charge, it's almost always wireless now. Ikea sell a 4 pads wireles charger for less than $20. Teslas and many other moderns cars comes with wireless charge capability.

This is just a dumb authoritarian move that will only benefit counterfeiters, dodgy cost cutters. It's also consistent with the EU's previous move to ignore China's kneecapping of the EU's CE consumer protection measures with China's China Export mark. Sigh....

More info into Apple's reasoning here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyTA33HQZLA&ab_channel=CollegeHumor

USB-C cables can carry more power so laptops can be charged faster, and they enable faster data transfer speeds, allowing a big trove of files to be copied from a computer to an external hard drive. At the same time, they can pump out a video signal to a monitor and supply power to connected accessories.

I have a question for any techies out there:

Does that mean that with the new iphone cables we'll be able watch movies, videos and pictures on previous external hard drives by just connecting them?

Does that mean that with the new iphone cables we'll be able watch movies, videos and pictures on previous external hard drives by just connecting them?

You should be able to do that even with the lightning connector.

But I guess for some external hard drives it needs to be externally powered.

For devices using USB C , the cable should provide sufficient power most cases

thank you ian!

There are not many users of iPhones who transfer large files between their iPhones and other devices. You can connect an external drive/USB drive to the iPhone but I don't do that often. Mainly files I keep for my business. As for charging I mostly use wireless.

Only one model will have a “fast” USB-C connection.

The other two, whilst having a USB-C plug will be at USB 2 speeds/specs, a standard which was set in 2001, and did not use or envision the current USB-C/Thunderbolt style cable plug.

I feel this is Apple’s big middle finger to the EU. Yes, we will use USB-C.. but many USB-C cables/adapters may actually be “too powerful” for those iPhones,.

This would be a deliberate setting by Apple, which again is a middle finger to the EU. An 80W USB-C charger for the Non MagSafe MacPro would be an example. Probably not best to charge the USB2 spec iPhone 15s with that, it may not even work as it is too powerful for the port on the iPhone.

Who still makes such low spec cables anymore? Did they ever have USB-2 spec cables that used an USB-C end/plug? And what other new electronic devices uses such low specs these days?

I lost a few million neurons just by reading the comments here. Are apple users so brain-dead?

Only one model will have a “fast” USB-C connection.

The other two, whilst having a USB-C plug will be at USB 2 speeds/specs, a standard which was set in 2001, and did not use or envision the current USB-C/Thunderbolt style cable plug.

I think you misunderstood what you read.

Apple added the USB-C to the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro. The company said that the Pro models would get up to 10 gigabits per second. However, you won’t get that speed out of the box because Apple is shipping a USB 2.0 cable with a type-C port.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/12/apple-adds-usb-3-speeds-to-iphone-15-pro-but-you-wont-get-those-out-of-the-box/

It appears the cable the phone comes with is USB-2 speed. The port is USB-C, if you upgrade the cable.

I have watched videos on my iPhone 12 from a connected memory stick without any problems.

Now let's see if apple ever allows its users to supplement their devices with removable memory cards.

Hervé L'Eisa

Now let's see if apple ever allows its users to supplement their devices with removable memory cards.

We already have them. I connect a memory stick or a drive to my iPhone or iPad. I do that for my business needs. I keep my business files off the iPhone and on a drive. I just connected.

Some iPhones have dual sims.

wallace

Today 01:52 pm JST

Hervé L'Eisa

> Now let's see if apple ever allows its users to supplement their devices with removable memory cards.

> We already have them. I connect a memory stick or a drive to my iPhone or iPad. I do that for my business needs. I keep my business files off the iPhone and on a drive. I just connected.

I'm afraid they re different.

Poster was referring to cards, like micro SD, which are installed like sims, inside the device and semi permanently.

Memory sticks or flashdrives are connected hanging out of devices and must be removed after use

In your case you may not need to if the memory stick is small enough and because you don't need the port for charging

ian

I know what people are referring to. Micro SD but it wasn't that long ago that you couldn't connect a memory stick to an iPhone but now you can. I like using the memory more than the Micro SD cards and I don't like to leave sensitive data in my phone.

Memory sticks are very small these days. Even for cable charging the memory stick can be removed.

The Micro Memory sticks for iPhones are now very small.

Hervé L'Eisa

Today 01:45 pm JST

Now let's see if apple ever allows its users to supplement their devices with removable memory cards

Only if regulations require them to, like in this case

Now let's see if apple ever allows its users to supplement their devices with removable memory cards.

Why would you need to? In this day and age, where you can stream music and video, having large amounts of storage is never anything I've needed, and i'm in tech.

I also have 150GB of online storage and like I said I just keep my sensitive files on my memory stick.

Battery capacity

Apple iPhone 15 Pro 3650mAh

Huawei Mate 60 Pro 5000mAh

Max Charge Speed

iPhone 15 Wireless 15W

Huawei 60 Wireless 50W

Camera

iPhone Triple 48 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP

Huawei Triple 50 MP + 48 MP + 12 MP

Price

iPhone 12GB+256GB ¥7999

Huawei 12GB+1TB ¥7999

¥ Chinese yuan, RMB, 圓、元、円, all characters the same meaning.

For me, I prefer a larger internal capacity, a larger battery capacity, and a faster charge speed and a better camera.

Huawei Mate 60 Pro can make satellite phone calls in areas with no signal.

I do not keep important sensitive files on my iPhone or in the Cloud. They are locked down and protected. I use internet banking but never on my phone. If someone steals my phone and gains access they won't be able to find anything useful. All my sites are locked down with long individual passwords only accessible with my password manager.

My brother from Rome just stayed with me. He has a Huawei Mate. Got to use it. I wouldn't give up my iPhone or its iOS.

I charge overnight, the speed does not matter.

Are apple users so brain-dead?

I feel that way sometimes. I've generally used Apple computers (but not phones). My current laptop only has USB-C connectors. But I need various types of cables and adaptors to connect to various devices - external hard drives (thunderbolt for one, USB-3 for another), monitor (HDMI), mouse and keyboard (USB - not a fan of wireless), charger. So my desk is littered with various "universal" cables that look the same at one end but are different at the other.

@albaleo: my laptop has only 2 USB C ports and I can run everything from them including dual monitors. Everything can be done via USB C. Apple just wants to control the eco system.

WHY IS APPLE USING IT?

Apple has long championed its proprietary Lightning connector for iPhones even though pretty much no one else used it. It resisted the EU's common charging push, citing worries that it would limit innovation and end up hurting consumers.

The problem with that excuse is that Apple never innovated the Lightning connector for years!

Meanwhile, USB cables kept getting faster and gaining more technologies like Thunderbolt 3 and 4

No, Apple kept the Lightning because they can keep charging the MFi ("Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad") fee to any manufacturer who wants to use the Lightning connection. Apple makes a lot of money off of the MFi fees - part of the so-called "Apple tax"

With the USB-C being a standard and freely given away (Intel doesn't charge a fee), Apple cannot demand a fee from manufacturers

(It seems in a twist, Apple will charge high prices for its USB-C cables to get the money from its customers instead. Fortunately, customers will have the choice this time - they can use any USB-C cable not branded by Apple)

I have never heard of this "USB-C" thing before in 2023, I'm a Lighting diehard person, and sounds like this "USB-C" is some woke EU agenda to put us under their control

Buying an Iphone is the last thing on my mind,I buy the cheapest no name android phone,I gave a woman a USB C cable to lightning,and even gave her a USB C Charger,I can make any combination of USB connection with a female to female USB connector

Gogo,you can add a USB C docking station,it let you have SD memory slot and more USB C and monitor peripheral to your computer,even add an external hard drive Google USB C Docking Station

Wallace,do an iPhone has some kind of magical powers,beside people having to take out a second mortgage on it , Apple on a stick,make me sick

Yrral

Apple devices are cheap because they last so long.

Travel apple already got you under control,by using your phone as a tracking beacon,so you can be located

Wallace,do an iPhone has some kind of magical powers

For me, it's because they are built well, work well out of the box, are secure, and have a nice OS that is very user friendly. Updates are very easy to do.

beside people having to take out a second mortgage on it

Some of us aren't poor.

do an iPhone has some kind of magical powers,beside people having to take out a second mortgage on it

I've had an Iphone 7 for years. Cheaper than replacing it with some cheap CCP tracked Chinese tat that contains who knows what every couple of years. Got 256GB of storage, of which I use about 30%. Easy to replace the battery and has never let me down. iOS has been rock solid since they invented it.

As for the camera, I actually have a 'camera' to take proper pictures. If you buy a smartphone for the camera you aren't really a person who knows how to take pictures, you're just another chav in the crowd with your hand in the air who takes lots of bad pictures instead of a few good ones.

Or someone who takes pictures of everything they stuff in their gobs. Either way a Chinese phone suits you better.

Wireless charging and iCloud. Who the hell still uses a wire to charge their phone?

MFi...

Was a response to people dying using non-compliant chargers and/or cables. It has served its purpose, it's got a better mechanical connection than USB/Thunderbolt, and the licensing fee is puny, hence why MFi certified cables on Amazon are nearly the same price as similar USB-C cables.

There really is no need to change or innovate anything, because the latest standard for charging and file transfer is wireless. AirDrop and wireless charging is just so much easier. That's the innovation.

On the other hand, I now have to throw away all my docks etc. if I had to upgrade to iPhone 15. What a waste.

The EU obviously doesn't care about safety, given its track record dealing with Conformity Europene mark vs the China Export mark.

https://starfishmedical.com/blog/conformite-europeenne-mark-vs-a-china-export-mark/

The EU basically cowered in shame and lied, ie saying no evidence of China Export used in the union.

@travelbangaijin: if you haven't heard of USB-C Apple has done effective marketing on you. You need to leave the Apple protective bubble and take a look around.

For 25 years I have found no reason to change from Apple.

if you haven't heard of USB-C Apple has done effective marketing on you

I’m genuinely confused. Apple has kept USB-C a secret from Apple users? Really?

When Mr Cleo upgraded his iPhone a couple of months ago the new device - obviously not the 15 - came with a ‘USB-C-Lightning cable’, so obviously the attempt to keep Apple users away from USB-C is decidedly not a thing.

And when I got a new Watch 8 two weeks ago, the charger that came with it is also USB-C. (Yeah, if I’d waited just a bit I could have had a 9. Couldn’t wait.)

The people who complain about Apple are the ones who don't use it. People are capable of deciding which products they want to buy and use. I have no problem with people using Android but it's not for me.

The people who complain about Apple also give the minus votes.

I phone is way too expensive for me.

Wandora

Today 08:53 am JST

Wireless charging and iCloud. Who the hell still uses a wire to charge their phone?

Power users

On the other hand, I now have to throw away all my docks etc. if I had to upgrade to iPhone 15. What a waste.

No usbc to lightning adaptor available?

No usbc to lightning adaptor available?

For what? Anyone who needs lightning cables already has them. And the new phones will come with USB-C.

Maybe you might want the other way around, lightning to USB-C, so that old cables can still be used, but personally I'd just buy new USB-C cables instead.

The nice thing about this change as compared to when Apple switched to the lightning cable, is that I already have a number of USB-C charges in my place for other devices. That's the exact benefit of non-proprietary ports that can be used across unrelated devices.

Very glad to read that the plug cannot be inserted upside down. That, and the fact that it has more capacity than the old plug, make it an improvement.

ian

Sep. 16 10:32 pm JST

On the other hand, I now have to throw away all my docks etc. if I had to upgrade to iPhone 15. What a waste.

> No usbc to lightning adaptor available?

> 0( +0 / -0 )

Strangerland

Today 02:28 am JST

No usbc to lightning adaptor available?

> For what? Anyone who needs lightning cables already has them. And the new phones will come with USB-C.

> Maybe you might want the other way around, lightning to USB-C, so that old cables can still be used, but personally I'd just buy new USB-C cables instead.

> The nice thing about this change as compared to when Apple switched to the lightning cable, is that I already have a number of USB-C charges in my place for other devices. That's the exact benefit of non-proprietary ports that can be used across unrelated devices.

His docks are lightning.

He's talking about upgrading to a device with usbc.

Looks like you have no choice but to stick to apple devices

ian

what is the make and model of your phone?

Android

ian

Android

Could have guessed that. What make and model?

Lol what's the point

ian

because since you have made many posts on this Apple article, I'm interested to know the model and make of your phone and if would you recommend it to others.

Devices themselves are not very relevant.

I recommend using Android and windows more than using apple operating systems.

Linux would be very good

One of the most basic features of devices other than apple's is the ability to expand storage.

For apple you have to buy a device with a large storage if you think you'll need it.

Apple devices with the smallest storage are already expensive but those with larger ones cost way more.

SD cards are very inexpensive

ian

Devices themselves are not very relevant.

Except when they are Apple.

I recommend using Android and windows more than using apple operating systems.

Still can't understand your resistance to posting your model. There is not just one Android maker. Windows which I previously used is rubbish compared with MacOS. I never have to spend time reinstalling the OS like I did with Windows.

Linux would be very good

But not for my needs.

wallace

Today 11:48 am JST

ian

> Devices themselves are not very relevant.

> Except when they are Apple.

> I recommend using Android and windows more than using apple operating systems.

> Still can't understand your resistance to posting your model

Yep.

Doesn't mean I have to post it/them

Windows which I previously used is rubbish compared with MacOS.

Of course it's rubbish.

Linux is rubbish too for many windows users.

A car is rubbish for those who can only drive a bike.

ian

One of the most basic features of devices other than apple's is the ability to expand storage.

> For apple you have to buy a device with a large storage if you think you'll need it.

> Apple devices with the smallest storage are already expensive but those with larger ones cost way more.

> SD cards are very inexpensive

Both SD cards and memory sticks fit into iPhones. But I usually have a 125GB phone and 150GB cloud storage. I only use the SD and memory stick for my business files.

But since you don't seem to use iPhone I don't value your opinion. Would you buy a car from a man you can't drive?

I personally don't don't care if people want Android/Windows/Linux. That is their choice.

Anyway have I mentioned that apple devices are rubbish?

Probably not but I take it back if I did.

Apple devices are very useful.

They are needed by a certain portion of the population.

But since you don't seem to use iPhone I don't value your opinion. Would you buy a car from a man you can't drive?

You only value opinions of those who use iphones?

Hahaha

Not surprised

I personally don't don't care if people want Android/Windows/Linux. That is their choice.

Don't care either.

But some people just don't have that choice.

But developers are working hard so everyone can use them.

Not too long ago that Linux is unusable to most users

Both SD cards and memory sticks fit into iPhones.

You can use sd cards now to expand iphones' internal storage?

Nice.

On my iPhone, I use memory sticks and tiny micro SD cards.

Linux would be my second choice and I have it but rarely use it.

wallace

Today 12:22 pm JST

On my iPhone, I use memory sticks and tiny micro SD cards

internal storage?

That's what the first post I think was about , not using external card readers.

Good if iphones can use it now internally.

Just like my nokia 2g phones maybe 20 years ago

There are also wifi drives for iPhones.

What is the difference between putting a microSD into an Android phone using the microSD slot, which is still an external storage, and putting a microSD card into the lightning connector on an iPhone? In practice there are none.

Can a USB stick or SDD drive be connected to an Android phone?

"If your Android phone or tablet is USB OTG supported, you are allowed to connect a SUB flash drive to Android and your Android device can read the USB flash drive."

So when it comes to additional or external storage both Android and iPhones are the same.

wallace

Today 12:51 pm JST

There are also wifi drives for iPhones.

> What is the difference between putting a microSD into an Android phone using the microSD slot, which is still an external storage, and putting a microSD card into the lightning connector on an iPhone? In practice there are none.

> Can a USB stick or SDD drive be connected to an Android phone?

> "If your Android phone or tablet is USB OTG supported, you are allowed to connect a SUB flash drive to Android and your Android device can read the USB flash drive."

> So when it comes to additional or external storage both Android and iPhones are the same.

Can't help you there apparently

I also use Box on my iPhone which is on my computer. Whatever I put into my Box file I can access with my phone. Same for OneDrive and Google Drive. 200GB of iCloud storage is ¥400 per month.

There are no storage problems with iPhones/iPads.

Whatever I do on the iPad/computer is accessible on the iPhone. They all talk to each other.

You need to research for yourself I'm afraid.

Start with the word "internal"

ian

You need to research for yourself I'm afraid.

> Start with the word "internal"

So you cannot explain the difference between a microSD in a slot and a microSD in a lightning port? They are both external storage devices and can be removed.

I am done with this

There is no practical difference in using a microSD on an Android or iPhone. Both add to the internal storage when in place. Both can be removed. Both can hold the same types of files. Memory sticks on Androids need to use the charging port.

We are not talking about 20 years ago.

Just ask yourself why are iphones with large internal storage so much more expensive than ones with little storage?

Postscript

"Internal storage meant the device's internal memory. Files stored here were locked to your app, meaning that other apps couldn't access them regardless of their permissions. External storage meant anything that wasn't the device's internal memory, such as an inserted SD card."

https://tdcolvin.medium.com/demystifying-internal-vs-external-storage-in-modern-android-c9c31cb8eeec

Android or Apple. I always go with Apple. Well made product and the iPhone is waterproof up to 6 feet. I don't need any microSD cards. I buy an iPhone with the storage I need and use iCloud for the rest including my backups. Always good trade-in prices. Applecare to cover breakages and stolen phones. Very good value in my opinion.

MicroSD in a phone is what is termed "portable storage". Many new phones no longer have microSD slots.

"It used to be that you could choose between setting your microSD card as internal storage (which means your phone treats it like its native storage), or portable storage (which means it’s more like a USB stick in a computer). Unfortunately, support for setting a microSD card as internal storage has waned strongly, and it’s fairly rare to find it on a smartphone these days."

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/microsd-card-android-guide/

JT should publish a new article about sd card next=)

I looked up usbc to lightning and this came up, from apple support website itself:

To use your current Lightning accessories, you can use the USB-C to Lightning adapter, which supports power, data, and audio.

So no need to throw away lightning accessories when upgrading to iphone with usbc.

Hope it's not too late for those who must have the latest apple devices and already upgraded

No one will be updating their iPhones just because of USB-C. People with lightning ports will continue to use them. People with the new iPhone 15 will use the USB-C. The iPhone 15 with come with a USB-C cable.

Lightning to USB-C adapters will be needed if using previous earpods.

iPhone 15 will be available from Sept. 22. Probably a bit longer in Japan.

I recommend using Android and windows more than using apple operating systems.

Linux would be very good

I work with all three daily in my work. My preference:

MacOS - Linux (Mint is my current flavor) - Windows

MacOS has the best interface, easiest to use, and is Linux under the hood for anyone needing command line capabilities.

Why would you need to? In this day and age, where you can stream music and video, having large amounts of storage is never anything I've needed, and i'm in tech.

You would need an external SSD if you want to record ProRes Raw from your phone camera. As the built in cameras get better and better, eventually the storage will become the bottle neck.

No new thing in iPhone 15. Poor iPhone,

travelbangaijinSep. 15  09:04 pm JST

I have never heard of this "USB-C" thing before in 2023, I'm a Lighting diehard person, and sounds like this "USB-C" is some woke EU agenda to put us under their control

And yet Macbooks have had USB-C ports on them for over 5 years.

And yet Macbooks have had USB-C ports on them for over 5 years.

It's not about whether Apple supports USB-C, as obviously it has been used on macbooks and ipads. The issue at hand is about a bunch of bureaucrats dictating how a company operating globally should design their products.

A port on a phone is really a legacy feature, you don't need it for charging, you don't need it for data transfer - wireless has overtaken wired for years now. The only reason to maintain a port is for compatibility with docks, dacs, etc. The EU is years late on this issue, and what they've done is just irrelevant and wasteful.

A port on a phone is really a legacy feature, you don't need it for charging, you don't need it for data transfer - wireless has overtaken wired for years now.

Wired charging and data transfer is still much faster than wireless

If ya want to recharge your phone quickly or want to transfer huge data, wired is still the way to go

Wired charging and data transfer is still much faster than wireless

This is why I charge with a wire for the most part. Wireless charging doesn't wokr so fast through my phone case.

Who transfers "huge amounts of data"?

Overnight charging is the best time for the iPhone whether with cable or wireless.

Who transfers "huge amounts of data"?

Creators do creative stuff with their smartphones now - it's not just a phone anymore

Sometimes, they want to transfer huge data fast, so they can free up space, and keep doing what they need to do

(Or charge their smartphones fast too, so they can go again)

Creators do creative stuff with their smartphones now - it's not just a phone anymore

Sometimes, they want to transfer huge data fast, so they can free up space, and keep doing what they need to do

Edge case.